Sekforde Street, EC1R

A newly created lateral apartment in one of Clerkenwell’s most sought after streets, disbursed over two houses, which has access both internally from the building as well as its own street entrance.

This period conversion offers flexibility as the three main rooms are of a generous size and therefore could be used as a two-bedroom apartment or with extra reception space. The accommodation offers good storage, a large bathroom, one/two bedrooms, one/two reception rooms and large kitchen/dining/living room.

Sekforde Street takes its name from an Elizabethan man of law, Thomas Sekford (1517-1587) who bequeathed a part of his Clerkenwell estate. He was a lawyer and MP under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The estate began its redevelopment in the early 1800’s with the layout of the street designed by C.R. Cokerall (surveyor) and his assistant James Noble. Most of the early development was nondomestic with a wallpaper factory, a mahogany warehouse, livery, stables, builders’ workshops and a parochial school. In the early 1800’s, Henry Johnson a brick layer of Charterhouse Lane had been employed taking on the role of building the houses, this role was continued by his son Henry Johnson and by 1837 the greater part of Sekforde Street had been completed.

Sekforde Street was the most important of the streets laid out on the Sekforde Estate in the late 1820s and is currently the best preserved, still retaining the majority of its original houses. The houses when built were occupied by skilled craftspeople, typically engaged in jewellery design, horologists, goldsmiths and printers.

The building is adorned with a blue plaque, run by English Heritage honouring notable men and women who have lived in them. John Groom lived in the house in the 1800’s, a local preacher who helped poverty stricken disabled girls and women who sold flowers and watercress in Farringdon Market. He founded the Flower girls’ Christian mission in 1866, creating a safe home and creating a factory in Sekforde Street where the women were offered a sanctuary enabling them to create artificial flowers thus making a living for themselves. Flowers were even produced for royalty, commissioned by Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII, launching a tradition known today as Queen Alexandra Rose Day.

The apartment is moments from Clerkenwell Green, Exmouth Market, Sadler’s Wells, St James’ Gardens and Spa fields, located in the Clerkenwell Green conservation area marking the neighbourhood of historic and architectural interest.

Farringdon underground and main line station is a short stroll away with access to the Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith and City lines, National rail and the Elizabeth Line. In fact, it is one of the only stations in London that offers north-south as well as east – west connections, making The City, Canary Wharf and London's West End easily accessible, not to mention easy access to Kings Cross St Pancras with its Eurostar terminus.